Stop Cash Shrink

One piece of the puzzle to get West Virginia’s medical marijuana program functional was introduced in the House of Delegates this week, but lack of funding for the agency that will oversee the program could still push back the implementation timeline. House Bill 2538 would allow various banking institutions to bid with the state Treasurer’s

West Virginia’s financial institutions face risks when providing banking services to medical marijuana businesses because cannabis is illegal under federal law, the state’s attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, wrote in a new opinion. Banking has been one sticking point in the rollout of West Virginia’s medical cannabis program, which has been delayed by disagreements over rulemakings.

West Virginia has about six months — and one regular legislative session — until its medical marijuana program launches, and lawmakers and other officials are still trying to figure out where the money is to go. Gov. Jim Justice signed the Medical Cannabis Act into law in 2017, with sales scheduled to begin this July

A petition for the West Virginia Legislature to call itself into special session to fix the state’s medical marijuana bill failed during May legislative interim meetings, but that doesn’t mean lawmakers won’t reconsider the issue before next year’s regular session. House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, said he has spoken with Gov. Jim Justice and House

Legislators concluded a two-day special session Monday afternoon without addressing legislation to direct the state treasurer to set up a banking system needed to transact payments under the state’s medical marijuana law. However, legislators were moving to take the rare step to petition themselves into special session. As of Monday afternoon, Sen. Mike Romano, D-Harrison,